Recently I had the opportunity to work with the Actors Theatre Workshop on the Builders Of The New World Program. They provide a theatre program for at risk youth who live in NYC shelters.

I admit I was a bit skeptical in the beginning. A lot of things were uncertain at the beginning of the program and I didn’t really see how they could pull the whole thing off. But the people who run the program have been doing it for over twenty years and they never second guessed themselves. They had complete faith that everything would work out. And it did.

I attended the graduation ceremony for the children this week and it was marvelous. I know that the children’s lives are enriched because they were in the program. But what I didn’t expect was that my life would be enriched as well.

Mr. Scott has just as big an impact on the mentors as he does the children. He has complete faith in his methods and his ability to execute them. He is unapologetic and confident in himself without being arrogant. And he genuinely loves and cares for people.

The graduation ceremony was wonderful for the children but I also felt like I graduated.

I’ve been told many times that I can do anything I set my mind to. When Mr. Scott said it, after working with the children through their performance, I finally believed it.